Road Bump

Tonight we made it out to watch daddy's softball team play. I'll share some pictures before I post what's on my heart....

The trio before we left:

Landry Grace on the move!

Landry Grace with Mallory and Hudson. We were not successful in getting a group shot...we tried.

LG is crazy about dogs. C-R-A-Z-Y. Loves. Them. She and Arley were in heaven at the ballpark.

Jake and Kyle watching their daddies.

I have always said that I love having my babies close together in age(360 days apart and NO it wasn't planned, but it happens!) but here lately we have been experiencing some major road bumps. The hard part comes when both babies are in the "terrible twos" and "terrible threes" together. It has made for some very difficult parenting moments here lately. They tend to "feed off" each other making some predicaments worse. Parenting is hard in and of itself and we have an added element with the age situation and their individual needs. Yet I also feel that's just an excuse and I need to get over it and just DEAL. At the same time I do know that it could always be worse. Our children are overall happy and healthy. With that being said.....

Jake has really become a whiner since turning 3 and I have just NOT found a good way to deal with the situation. Sharing is a battle we all face as parents and it doesn't go over well at all with Jake. He won't share....do I let him battle it out with the other child and watch or do something about it? I don't want to enable him by always stepping into the situation as I want him to learn for himself. Another example, if someone walks by his sippy cup or god forbid his capri sun he goes crazy because he thinks they are going to drink it. Talking about it seems to do no good, time out we do...but that doesn't seem to work for him, and spanking we do because it does work, but I hate to do it all the time. Then the guilt sets in...do I not give him enough attention. Did he not get nurtured enough as a toddler? Did I not teach him properly? It may sound so trivial but when you are in the midst of it, it is very very frustrating. Is it because I work and cannot meet all of his needs? Sorry for the pity party...I am just concerned that this isn't normal behavior. At the same time I am thinking that maybe it is his way of crying out for attention.

Landry Grace also has her needs but they are different. She is clingy at times but that I can handle. She has her temper tantrums and then she seems to bounce back pretty well. We are trying to potty train her currently and saying she "has a mind of her own" is an understatement. You can't trick her into anything so I haven't pushed the issue at all. Tonight she scored a "2 pointer" on the potty without being prompted so of course we loaded everyone up and headed to the dollar store for a prize. It was more than humorous to see Jake giving her high fives and screaming "woo-hoo" at the top of his lungs since he just figured he would get a prize too, which he did.

There are highs and lows. Parenting is such a challenge. We have all thought to ourselves before or after becoming parents: "My child will NEVER do that" or "I'm glad that's not my child" and now I am eating those words and shameful that I thought that way at one time. Now I always try to think until you are in their shoes, don't judge. OK...I'm done.

This is more the Lord telling me to trust in Him and pray earnestly that we are doing the best we can with our babies. Amen:)